For the second year in a row, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the preliminary names for the Senior Ballot.  Last year, there were 182 Preliminary nominees, which has been dropped to 162 this year.

This group will be pared down to 50 names in the upcoming weeks.

The 162 nominees are:

*Denotes that he was not a preliminary candidate last year.

Quarterbacks (9):

Ken Anderson: CIN 1971-86.  Anderson was the consensus MVP in 1981 and the four-time Pro Bowl would pass for 32,838 Yards and 197 Touchdowns.  He was also the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year and historically brought the Cincinnati Bengals to their first Super Bowl.  Ranked #8 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Charlie Conerly: NYG 1948-61. Conerly was a 1956 New York Giants NFL Championship Team member, was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, and accumulated 19,488 Yards and 173 TDs.  Ranked #50 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roman Gabriel: LAR 1962-72 & PHI 1973-77.  Gabriel was the league MVP in 1969, earning four Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro, and he threw for 29,444 Yards and 201 TDs.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

*John Hadl:  SDG 1962-72, LAR 1973-74, GNB 1974-75 & HOU 1976-77.  Hadl was a top gunslinger of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who was the runner-up for the 1972 MVP.  He went to the Pr Bowl six times, led the NFL in Passing Yards three times, and compiled 33,503 Yards with 268 Touchdowns.  Ranked #105 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Kemp:  PIT 1957, LAC/SD 1960-62 & BUF 1962-69.  A seven-time AFL All-Star, Kemp led the Bills to two AFL Championships, where he was the MVP in both games.  He is also a former AFL MVP.  Ranked #118 on notinhalloffame.com.

Don Meredith:  DAL 1960-1968. “Dandy Don” went to three Pro Bowls and won the 1966 Bert Bell Award.  He threw for 135 Touchdowns and 17,199 Yards.

*Earl Morrall: SFO 1956, PIT 1957-58, DET 1958-64, NYG 1965-67, BAL 1968-71 & IA 1972-76.  Morrall played 21 seasons in the NFL, where he proved his value in his second half as a veteran presence.  The surprise MVP of 1968 when he took over for the injured Johnny Unitas, Morrall brought the Colts to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the upstart New York Jets.  He was the MVP runner-up in 1972 as a Dolphin, where he was lost to injury during the season, leaving Bob Griese to take the Fins to an undefeated Super Bowl year.  He had 20,809 Yards with 161 Touchdowns.

Jim Plunkett: NWE 1971-75, SFO 1976-77, OAK 1979-81 & RAI 1982-86.  Plunkett won two Super Bowls with the Raiders, where he was the MVP in Super Bowl XV.  He compiled 164 Touchdown Passes and 25,882 Passing Yards.  Ranked #250 on notinhalloffame.com.

Doug Williams:  TB 1978-82 & WAS 1986-89.  Williams made history as the first African-American Quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he led Washington to victory while winning the Super Bowl MVP in the process.  He overall threw for 16,988 Yards and 100 Touchdowns.

The Quarterbacks who did not return from last year are Boomer Esiason, James “Shack” Harris, Bobby Hebert, Jeff Hostetler, Ron Jaworski, Daryle Lamonica, Phil Simms, and Joe Theismann.  John Hadl and Earl Morrall were added.

Running Backs (16):

Alan Ameche: BAL 1955-60.  Ameche was the UPI Rookie of the Year and the league’s leading rusher that year.  A two-time NFL Champion, Ameche was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro who compiled 4,045 Rushing Yards and 44 Touchdowns from Scrimmage. Ranked #71 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ottis Anderson: STL 1979-86 & NYG 1986-92.  Anderson had a monster rookie campaign for St. Louis and would later win two Super Bowls with New York, where he was named a Super Bowl MVP.  He had 10,273 Rushing Yards, 3,063 Receiving Yards, and 86 Touchdowns from Scrimmage.  Ranked #69 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Brown: WAS 1969-76.  Brown won the 1972 AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and was also a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Running Back.  He had 8,360 Yards from Scrimmage with 55 TDs.  Ranked #109 on notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner:  CLE 1984-88 & 1994-95, WAS 1990-93 & BAL 1996-97.  Byner won two Super Bowls and amassed 12,866 Yards from Scrimmage and 71 Touchdowns.  He was also a two-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.

Roger Craig:  SFO 1983-90, RAI 1991 & MIN 1992-93.  The first player to accumulate 1,000 Yards Rushing and Receiving, Craig won three Super Bowls, was the Offensive Player of the Year, earned four Pro Bowls, and was a First Team All-Pro.  From Scrimmage, he had 73 Touchdowns and 13,100 Yards,  Ranked #15 on notinhalloffame.com.

John David Crow: CRD 1968-59, STL 1960-64 & SFO 1965-68.  Crow had 71 TDs and 8,692 Yards from Scrimmage.  He was also a four-time Pro Bowl Selection and one-time leader in YFS.  Ranked #167 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chuck Foreman:  MIN 1973-79 & NWE 1980.  Foreman went to the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, and the 1973 Offensive Rookie of the Year was a two-time YFS TD leader.  He compiled 9,106 Yards from Scrimmage.  Ranked #79 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Cecil Isbell: GNB 1938-42.  Isbell only played five seasons but was a four-time Pro Bowl, two-time Touchdown leader, and two-time leader in Passing Yards.  He also helped Green Bay win the NFL Championship in 1939 and was named to the 1930s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Verne Lewellen: GNB 1924-32 & NYY 1927.  Lewellen was a First Team All-Pro four times and helped lead Green Bay to three NFL Championships.  Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jack Manders: CHI 1933-40.  Manders helped the Chicago Bears win two NFL Championships, and he was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  

*Mercury Morris: MIA 1969-75 & SDG 1976.  Morris was a popular member of Miami’s undefeated Super Bowl Championship Team, who was also a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  

*Don Perkins:  DAL 1961-68.  A Dallas Cowboy for his entire career, Perkins was a Pro Bowl Selection in six of his eight years, proving himself as one of Dallas’s top offensive stars in their first decade.  Ranked #201 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Billy Sims:  DET 1980-84.  For a brief time in the early 1980s, Billy Sims was the toast of the early 1980s, with his flashy style and personality.  He was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1980, but only played five years. 

Herschel Walker: DAL 1986-89 & 1996-97, MIN 1989-1991, PHI 1992-94 & NYG 1985.  Walker began his career in the USFL, where he was hands down their best player.  He later had two Pro Bowls in the NFL and led the league in YFS once.  Ranked #99 on notinhalloffame.com.

Byron “Whizzer” White: PIT 1938 & DET 1940-41.  White only played three years in the NFL and was the Rushing Leader in two.  He is also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #171 on notinhalloffame.com.

Paul “Tank” Younger: RAM 1949-57 & PIT 58.  Younger won an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Younger rushed for 3,640 Yards and 34 Touchdowns and was also a potent Linebacker.  Ranked #196 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Running Backs who did not return from last year are Jon Arnett, Timmy Brown, Clem Daniels, Hewritt Dixon, Willie Gallimore, Pat Harder, Marv Hubbard, Daryl Johnston, Christian Okoye, Bill Osmanski, Glenn Presnell, Mark van Eaghen, and Sammy Winder.    Added were Jack Manders, Mercury Morris, and Don Perkins.

Ends/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (30):

*Fred Arbanas: DTX/KAN 1962-70.  In his first six seasons, Arbanas was a five-time All-AFL Star and five-time All-AFL All-Pro.  Arbanas helped Kansas City win three Titles and was easily one of the AFL’s best receivers in the early 1960s.  Ranked #301 on notinhalloffame.com.

Todd Christensen: NYG 1979-80 & OAK/RAI 1980-88.  The quintessential Tight End of the 1980s, Todd Christensen, won two Super Bowls with the Raiders.  He had 41 Touchdowns and 5,872 Yards.  Ranked #63 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Mark Clayton: MIA 1983-92 & GNB 1993.  Clayton was Dan Marino’s best weapon and had two years where he led the NFL in Touchdown Receptions.  He had 84 TDs and 8,974 Yards.  Ranked #269 on notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Collins: CLE 1962-71.  Collins had a dual role as a Wide Receiver and Punter and accrued 70 Touchdowns from the air,  Ranked #147 on notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Curtis: CIN 1973-84. Curtis was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first four years and a three-time Second-Team All-Pro.  He had 7,101 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdowns.

Carroll Dale: RAM 1960-64, GNB 1965-72 & MIN 1973.  A two-time Super Bowl and three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay, Dale had an impressive 8,277 Yards with 52 Touchdowns.

Lavvie Dilweg: MIL 1926 & GNB 1927-34.  Dilwag was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and was chosen for the 1920s All-Decade Team.  Ranked #6 on notinhalloffame.com.

Boyd Dowler: GNB 1959-69 & WAS 1971.  Five-time NFL Champion and two-time Super Bowl winner, Boyd Dowler was also a two-time Pro Bowl recipient who had 7,270 Yards and 40 TDs.  Ranked #168 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Duper: MIA 1982-92.  A key weapon for Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins, Duper went to three Pro Bowls and amassed 59 Touchdowns and 8,869 Yards.

Henry Ellard: RAM 1983-93, WAS 1994-98 & NEW 1998.  Ellard compiled 13,777 Yards and 65 Touchdowns in a career where he once led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He is also a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #64 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmie Giles: HOU 1977, TAM 1978-86, DET 1986-87, PHI 1987-89.  A four-time Pro Bowl Tight End as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Giles had 5,084 Yards with 41 Touchdowns over his career.

*Charley Hennigan: HOU 1960-67.  A two-time AFL Champion with the Houston Oilers, Hennigan was an AFL All-Star in five of his eight seasons.  He was also a three-time First Team All-Pro, and he was a two-time league-leader in Receiving Yards and Yards From Scrimmage.  Hennigan had 51 TDs and 6,823 Yards.

Billie Howton: GNB 1952-58, CLE 1959 & DAL 1960-62.  Howton was a four-time Pro Bowl at End who twice led the NFL in Receiving Yards.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro who amassed 8,459 Yards with 61 Touchdowns.  Ranked #52 on notinhalloffame.com.

Harold Jackson: RAM 1968 & 1973-77, PHI 1969-72, BEW 1978-81, MIN 1982 & SEA 1983.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Jackson won two Receiving Yards Titles and compiled 10,372 Yards and 76 Touchdowns.  Ranked #49 on notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Jackson: PHI 1988-91, MIA 1992-94 & GNB 1995-96.  Jackson was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who was a First Team All-Pro Tight End in his first three seasons.  A Super Bowl winner in his final season in Green Bay, Jackson had 49 Touchdowns with 5,283 Yards.  Ranked #90 on notinhalloffame.com.

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson:  HOU 1974-80, ATL 1982-87 & WAS 1988.  One of the most prolific Returners in football history, Johnson had 10,795 All-Purpose Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection. Ranked #114 on notinhalloffame.com.

Brent Jones: SFO 1987-97.  A four-time Pro Bowl at Tight End, Jones won three Super Bowls with the 49ers while catching 33 Touchdowns and 5,195 Yards.

Homer Jones: NYG 1964-69 & CLE 1970.  Jones was twice named to the Pro Bowl, and over his career, he accrued 4,986 Yards and 36 Touchdowns.  In 1967, he led the NFL in Touchdowns from Scrimmage (14).

*Steve Jordan: MIN 1982-94.  Jordan went to six consecutive Pro Bowls, and the Tight End had 6,307 Yards with 28 TDs.

*Eric Martin: NO 1985-93 & KAN 1994.  Martin was a Pro Bowl Selection once and had 49 TDs with 8,161 Yards.

Stanley Morgan: NWE 1977-89 & IND 1990.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Stanley Morgan compiled 72 Touchdowns with 10,716 Receiving Yards.  He was also a three-time leader in Yards per Reception.    Ranked #278 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Novacek: STL/PHO 1985-89 & DAL 1990-95.  Novacek was a Pro Bowler in his final five seasons (all with Dallas), where he helped them capture three Super Bowls.  The Tight End had 4,630 Yards with 30 Touchdowns.  Ranked #133 on notinhalloffame.com.

Art Powell: PHI 1959, NYT 1960-62, OAK 1963-66, BUF 1967 & MIN 1968.  Powell, who was a Finalist last year, was a two-time Receiving Yards leader in the AFL.  A four-time AFL-All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro, Powell had 8,046 Yards and 81 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on notinhalloffame.com.

Del Shofner: RAM 1957-60 & NYG 1961-67.  Shofner went to five Pro Bowls and was selected to the First Team All-Pro in all of them.  He accumulated 6,470 Yards and 51 Touchdowns over his career.  Ranked #12 on notinhalloffame.com.

John Taylor: SFO 1987-95.  Taylor played his entire career with San Francisco, where he won three Super Bowls.  He accumulated 5,598 Receiving Yards, 43 Touchdowns, and two Pro Bowls.

Lionel Taylor: CHI 1959, DEN 1960-66 & HOU 1967-68.  Taylor blossomed in Denver, where he was a five-time AFL leader in Receptions and a three-time First Team All-Star and three-time AFL All-Star.  He compiled 45 Touchdowns and 7,195 Yards.  Ranked #148 on notinhalloffame.com.

Otis Taylor: KAN 1965-75. Taylor won two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl with Kansas City who had 60 TDs and 7,467 Yards From Scrimmage.  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #32 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rick Upchurch: DEN 1975-83.  Upchurch amassed 4,369 Receiving Yards with 24 TD, but the three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl player had more production in returns with 5,363 Yards and 8 TDs.  Ranked #226 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Bobby Walston: PHI 1951-62.  Walston won an NFL Championship with the Eagles and compiled 5,363 Yards with 46 TDs from the air.

Billy Wilson: SFO 1951-60.  Wilson played his entire career with the 49ers where he was named to six consecutive Pro Bowls (1954-59).  He was also a one-time First-Team All-Pro, a three-time leader in receptions, and compiled 49 Touchdowns and 5,902 Receiving Yards.  Ranked #176 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Ends/Wide Receivers/Tight Ends who did not return from last year are Mark Bavaro,  Gino Cappalletti, Raymond Chester, Ken Kavanaugh, Mike Quick, Bob Scarpitto, Sterling Sharpe (Inducted), and Pat Studstill.  Added were Fred Arbanas, Charley Hennigan, Steve Jordan, Eric Martin, and Jay Novacek.

Offensive Lineman (35):

*Hunk Anderson:  CHI 1922-25 & CLI 1923.  Anderson only played four years but was named retroactively to the 1920s All-Decade Team.

*Bruce Armstrong: NWE 1987-2000.  Armstrong started all of his 212 Games for New England and went to six Pro Bowls.  Ranked #212 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Stew Barber: BUF 1961-69.  Barber helped Buffalo win two AFL Championships, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and a five-time AFL All-Star.

Dick Barwegan: NYY 1947, BCL 1948-49, CHI 1950-52 & BAL 1953-54.  Barwegen was named to the 1950s All-Decade Team and was a four-time First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #174 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ed Budde: KAN 1963-76.  Budde was a seven-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl who helped the Kansas City Chiefs win two AFL Championships and a Super Bowl.  Ranked #56 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ox Emerson:  PRT 1931-33, DET 1933-37 & BKN 1938.  Emerson was selected for the 1930s All-Decade Team and five First Team All-Pros.  He also helped the Detroit Lions to an NFL Championship.  Ranked #28 on notinhalloffame.com.

Gale Gillingham: GNB 1996-74 & 1976.  Gillingham was a Guard on Green Bay’s first two Super Bowl-winning teams, and he was also a five-time Pro Bowl with three First-Team All-Pros.  Ranked #122 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charles “Buckets” Goldenberg: GNB 1933-45.  Goldenberg was a three-time NFL Champion with Green Bay and is a member of the 1930s All-Decade Team and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.  Ranked #241 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Dennis Harrah: RAM 1975-87.  A Los Angeles Ram for his entire career, Harrah had a pair of three-year streaks as a Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #242 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jay Hilgenberg: CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NOR 1993.  Hilgenberg was the Center for the Super Bowl Shuffle-winning team, and the two-time First Team All-Pro also had a seven-year run of Pro Bowls from 11985 to 1991.  Ranked #67 on notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton: BAL 1984, IND 1984-89, ATL 1990-1993 & MIN 1994-95. Hinton went to six Pro Bowls, five of which were as a Colt.  Ranked #166 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Jacoby: WAS 1981-93.  A famed member of the Hogs, Jacoby was part of all three of Washington’s Super Bowl wins and was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #33 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn: ATL 1978-94.  Kenn is one of the finest offensive linemen in Falcons history, and the Left Tackle would earn five Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros. Ranked #61 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Kuechenberg: MIA 1970-83.  The versatile Lineman was a significant component in Miami’s back-to-back Super Bowl Championships in the early 70s, and he was also named to six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #30 on notinhalloffame.com. 

George Kunz: ATL 1869-74 & BAL 1975-78 & 80.  Kunz was a seven-time Pro Bowl Tackle and would add a First Team All-Pro in his first year as a Colt.  Ranked #103 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Riley Matheson: RAM 1939-42 & 1944-47, DET 1943 & SFO 1948 .  An NFL Champion with the Rams in 1945, Matheson was a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #152 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Max Montoya: CIN 1979-87 & RAI 1990-94.  Montoya was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.

*Jon Morris: BOS/NWE 1964-74, DET 1975-77 & CHI 1978.  Morris was an AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, and the Center was a First Team All-Pro once.  Ranked #261 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ralph Neely: DAL 1965-77.  Neely won two Super Bowls with Dallas and was a three-time First Team All-Pro at Right Tackle.  Ranked #218 on notinhalloffame.com.  

John Niland: DAL 1966-74 & PHI 1975.  Niland went to the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons (1968-73) and was chosen for three First Team All-Pros.  The Guard also won a Super Bowl with Dallas.  Ranked #213 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bart Oates: NYG 1985-95.  A five-time Pro Bowl at Center, Oates anchored the New York Giants to three Super Bowls.  Ranked #293 on notinhalloffame.com.

Marvin Powell: NYJ 1977-85 & TAM 1986-87.  Powell went to five straight Pro Bowls (1979-83) with a First Team All-Pro Selection in three of them.  Ranked #213 on notinhalloffame.com.

Duane Putnam: RAM 1952-59 & 1962, DAL 1960 & CLE 1961.  Like Powell above, Putnam went to five straight Pro Bowls (1954-58) with a First Team All-Pro Selection in three of them.  Ranked #229 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dick Schafrath: CLE 1959-71.  A Cleveland Brown for the entirety of his career, Schafrath was a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro at Left Tackle.  He is also a former NFL Champion.  Ranked #27 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jerry Sisemore: PHI 1973-84.  Sisemore went to two Pro Bowls and helped the Philadelphia Eagles reach their first Super Bowl.

*Doug Smith: RAM 1978-91.  Smith had a six-year streak of Pro Bowl Selections at Center (1984-89).

Walt Sweeney: SDG 1963-73 & WAS 1974-75.  Sweeney won an AFL Championship with San Diego, and the Guard was chosen for nine consecutive AFL All-Stars/NFL Pro Bowls (1963-72).  He was also a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #55 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Bob Talamini: HOU 1960-67 & NYJ 1968.  Talamini was chosen for six straight AFL All-Stars (1962-67) and helped the Oilers win three AFL Championships.  The three-time First Team All-Pro played his final season with the New York Jets, where he aided the Jets in their first Super Bowl win.  Ranked #324 on notinhalloffame.com.

Fuzzy Thurston: BAL 1958 & GNB 1959-67.  The highly decorated Guard won six NFL Championships (one with Baltimore and five with Green Bay) and was a member of the Packers’ first two Super Bowl teams.  He is also a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #264 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Tyrer: DTX 1961-62, KAN 1963-73 & WAS 1974.  A three-time AFL Champion with the Texans/Chiefs, the Left Tackle was a six-time First Team All-Pro and nine-time AFL All-Star/Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #13 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Bob Vogel: BAL 1963-72.  Vogel helped the Colts win their first Super Bowl, and he was also a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Ed White: MIN 1969-77 & SDG 1978-85.  White had a long career split between the Vikings and Chargers, and the Guard went to four Pro Bowls.

*Ray Wietcha: NYG 1953-62.  The four-time Pro Bowl Center helped the Giants win the 1956 Championship.  Ranked #291 on notinhalloffame.com.

Al Wistert: PHI 1943-51.  Wistert was an All-Decade player of the 1940s who propelled Philadelphia to two NFL Championships.  He was also a four-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #31 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Offensive Linemen who did not return from last year are Harris Barton, Randy Cross, Ray Donaldson, Bill Fralic, Kevin Glover, Wayne Hawkins, Don Mosebar, Nate Newton, and Luis Sharpe.  Added were Hunk Anderson, Bruce Armstrong, Stew Barber, Dennis Harrah, Riley Matheson, Max Montoya, Jon Morris, Bart Oates, Marvin Powell, Duane Putnam, Bob Talamini, Bob Vogel, and Ray Wietcha.

Defensive Linemen (15):

*Houston Antwine: BOS/NWE 1961-71 & PHI 1972.  Antwine was named to six consecutive AFL All-Stars (1963-68).  A one-time First Team All-Pro, Antwine recorded 38 unofficial Sacks.  Ranked #216 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Gene Brito: WAS 1951-53 & 1955-60.  Brito played his entire career with the Washington Redskins and was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  Ranked #158 on notinhalloffame.com.

Roger Brown: DET 1960-66 & RAM 1967-69.  Brown went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (1962-67) and was twice named a First Team All-Pro.   Ranked #164 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Earl Faison: SDG 1961-66 & MIA 1966.  In Faison’s first five seasons, he was chosen to be an AFL All-Star and was a First Team All-Pro in four of them.  He had 31 unofficial Sacks in his career.  Ranked #238 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Gastineau:  NYJ 1979-88.  Named the UPI Defensive Player of the Year in 1984, Gastineau was a two-time Sack leader, a three-time First Team All-Pro, and a five-time Pro Bowler.  He had 107 career Sacks and four top ten AP Defensive Player of the Year finishes.  Ranked #56 on notinhalloffame.com.

L.C. Greenwood:  PIT 1969-81.  Greenwood was a vital member of the Steelers' 1970s dynasty that won four Super Bowls.  A six-time Prowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, Greenwood accumulated 78 Sacks.  Ranked #5 on notinhalloffame.com.

Ed “Too Tall” Jones:  DAL 1974-78 & 1980-89.  Jones had 106 Sacks over his career that netted him three Pro Bowls, a First Team All-Pro, and a Super Bowl ring.  Ranked #283 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jim Marshall: CLE 1960 & MIN 1961-78.  The ironman of his day, Marshall brought the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances and was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection along the way.  He had 130.5 lifetime Sacks.  Ranked #37 on notinhalloffame.com.

Leonard Marshall: NYG 1983-92, NYJ 1993 & WAS 1994.  Marshall had 83.5 Sacks and 714 Tackles over his career and won two Super Bowls with the Giants.  He also went to two Pro Bowls.

Harvey Martin: DAL 1973-83.  Martin won the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1977 and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection who won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys.  He had 114 career Sacks.  Ranked #119 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Jerry Mays: DTX/KAN 1961-70.  Mays played his entire career with the Texans/Chiefs, where he was a seven-time AFL All-Star, a two-time First Team All-Pro, a three-time AFL Champion, and a one-time Super Bowl winner.  He had 65.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #54 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Sestak:  BUF 1962-68.  Buffalo’s Right Defensive Tackle for seven seasons, Sestak anchored the Bills to two AFL Championships while earning three consecutive First Team All-Pros (1963-65) and four AFL All-Stars (1962-65).  He was also the AFL’s leader in Sacks in 1964 (15.5) and had 52 overall.  Ranked #191 on notinhalloffame.com.

Fred Smerlas:  BUF 1979-89, SFO 1990 & NWE 1991-92.  The Nose Tackle was a five-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro during his time in Buffalo.  Ranked #232 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Neil Smith: KAN 1988-71, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  A two-time Super Bowl winner with Denver, Smith is best known for his time in Kansas City where he was a First Time All-Pro once, and earned five of his six Pro Bowls.  The Defensive end finished in the top five in Defensive Player of the Year twice and overall had 104.5 Sacks.  Ranked #40 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Stanfill:  MIA 1969-76.  Stanfill was Miami’s Right Defensive End for eight years, where he won two Super Bowls and was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He compiled 69.5 Sacks and was the league-leader in that stat in 1973.  Ranked #303 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Linemen who did not return from last year are Lyle Alzado, George Andrie, Al “Bubba” Baker, Ray Childress, Ben Davidson, Bill Glass, Rosey Grier, Rich Jackson, Sean Jones, Tom Keating, Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb, Leslie O’Neal, Michael Dean Perry, Lou Rymkus, Otis Sistrunk, Bubba Smith, and Greg Townsend.  Added were Houston Antwine, Gene Brito, Earl Faison, Jerry Mays, and Neil Smith

Linebackers (25):

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Giants, Banks was a one-time All-Pro with 860 career Tackles. Ranked #234 in notinhalloffame.com.

Maxie Baughan: PHI 1960-65, RAM 1966-70 & WAS 1974.  Baughan was an NFL Champion with Philadelphia and was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He was also a one-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Second Team All-Pro.  Ranked #14 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Bergey: CIN 1969-73 & PHI 1974-80.  Bergey was the 1969 Defensive Rookie of the Year and was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in 1974.  He was a two-time First Team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #154 on notinhalloffame.com.

*Matt Blair: MIN 1974-84.  Blair went to six straight Pro Bowls (1977-82) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro in a career spent entirely in Minnesota.  He had 16 Interceptions, 20 Fumble Recoveries, and 23 Sacks.  Ranked #185 on notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Curtis: BAL 1965-75, SEA 1976 & WAS 1977-78.  Curtis helped Baltimore win Super Bowl V and, individually, was a one-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl recipient.  Ranked #183 on notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Fortunato:  CHI 1955-66.  Fortunato played his entire career with the Bears, where he won an NFL Championship and earned three consecutive First Team All-Pros (1963-65).  Ranked #94 on notinhalloffame.com.

Larry Grantham:  NYT 1960-62 & NYJ 1963-72.  Grantham was a five-time AFL All-Star and three-time First Team All-Pro, who was part of the historical Jets team that won Super Bowl III.  Ranked #60 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tim Harris:  GNB 1986-90, SFO 1991-92 & 1994-95 & PHI 1993.   Harris won a Super Bowl with San Francisco, and in 1989, as a Packer, he was second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  He recorded 81 Sacks.

E.J. Holub (also OL): DTX/KAN 1961-70.  A five-time AFL All-Star, Holub was a two-time First Team All-Pro who helped Kansas City win three AFL Championships and a Super Bowl.  Ranked #315 on notinhalloffame.com.

Vaughn Johnson: NOR 1986-93 & PHI 1994.  Johnson went to four Pro Bowls and was third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 1990.

Lee Roy Jordan: DAL 1963-76.  Playing his entire career with the Cowboys, Jordan patrolled the interior and was a five-time Pro Bowler in the process.  He also won a Super Bowl with Big D.  Ranked #35 on notinhalloffame.com.

Seth Joyner: PHI 1986-93, ARI 1994-96, GNB 1997 & DEN 98.  Joyner won a Super Bowl late in his career with Denver but was at his best with Philadelphia, where he had two of his three Pro Bowls and was the runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year in 1991.  He had 1,123 Tackles and 52 Sacks.  Ranked #285 on notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Lloyd: PIT 1988-97 & CAR 1998.  Lloyd was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection who earned three straight First Team All-Pros (1993-95).  He finished in the top three in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice, was a two-time league-leader in Forced Fumbles, and had 54.5 Sacks.  Ranked #70 on notinhalloffame.com.

Wilber Marshall: CHI 1984-87, WAS 1988-92, HOU 1993, ARI 1994 & NYJ 1995.  Marshall won two Super Bowls (one with Chicago and one with Washington), and the three-time Pro Bowl Selection had 23 Interceptions, 45 Sacks, and 1,043 Tackles.  Ranked #116 on notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Martin: OAK 1977-81 & RAI 1983-88.  Martin played his entire career with the Raiders, winning two Super Bowls and earning two Pro Bowls.  He had 14 Interceptions and 56.5 Sacks.

Clay Matthews Jr.: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.  Matthews Jr. was a three-time leader in Combined Tackles with 1,595 overall.  A four-time Pro Bowl Selection, Matthews Jr. also had 82.5 Sacks and 16 Interceptions.  Ranked #100 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bud McFadin: RAM 1952-56, DEN 1960-63 & HOU 1964-65.  McFadin was a two-time Pro Bowl recipient, a three-time AFL All-Star, and a three-time First Team All-Pro who is one of the few players who had success in both leagues.  Ranked #277 on notinhalloffame.com.

Karl Mecklenberg: DEN 1983-94.  Mecklenburg was a beast in the interior, compiling three First Team All-Pros, six Pro Bowls, 79 Sacks, and 1,118 Tackles.  Ranked #81 on notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Millen: OAK 1980-81, RAI 1982-88, SFO 1989-90 & WAS 1991.  The one-time Pro Bowler won four Super Bowls over his career.

Tommy Nobis: ATL 1966-78.  Nobis was the Rookie of the Year and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #36 on notinhalloffame.com.

 

Isiah Robertson: RAM 1971-78 & BUF 1979-82.  The 1971 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year went to six Pro Bowls, was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and in 1973 was second in DPOY voting.  The multi-faceted Linebacker had 25 Interceptions and 24.5 Sacks.  Ranked #137 on notinhalloffame.com.

Pat Swilling: NOR 1986-92, DET 1993-94 & OAK 1995-96 & 1998.   Swilling was named the 1991 AP Defensive Player of the Year and the five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro, accumulated 107.5 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #72 on notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley: BUF 1983-94, ATL 1995 & MIN 1996.  Talley went to two Pro Bowls and was part of the Buffalo squad that went to four straight Super Bowls.  He compiled 1,252 Tackles and 38.5 Sacks.

Keena Turner: SFO 1980-90.  Turner went to one Pro Bowl and was a key part of four Super Bowl Championships in San Francisco.

The Linebackers who did not return from last year are Dan Connors, Tom Jackson, Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, Andy Russell, and Phil Villapiano.  Added were Matt Blair, Tim Harris, E.J. Holub, Bud McFadin, Isiah Robertson, and Keena Turner.

Defensive Backs (27):

Dick Anderson:  MIA 1968-77.  Anderson was the 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year, the 1973 Defensive Player of the Year, and won two Super Bowls.  A two-time First Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl Selection, Anderson had 24 Interceptions.  Ranked #93 on notinhalloffame.com.

Bobby Boyd:  BAL 1960-68.  Boyd won an NFL Championship with the Colts and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He led the league in Interceptions in 1965 and had 57 in total.  Ranked #39 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Brown:  PIT 1975, SEA 1976-86 & GNB 1987-89.  Brown compiled an impressive 62 Interceptions over his career, returning five for Touchdowns.  He went to the Pro Bowl once.

Joey Browner:  MIN 1983-91 & TAM 1992.   Browner went to six consecutive Pro Bowls as a Strong Safety and was a First-Team All-Pro in three of those years.  He recorded 37 interceptions over his career.  Ranked #135 on notinhalloffame.com.

Butch Byrd:  BUF 1964-70 & DEN 1971.  Byrd helped Buffalo win two AFL Championships, and individually was a three-time First Team All-Pro with five AFL All-Stars.  He also had 40 picks over his eight seasons.  Ranked #205 on notinhalloffame.com.

Thom Darden:  CLE 1972-81.  Darden led the NFL in Interceptions once, went to one Pro Bowl, and was a three-time Second Team All-Pro.

Don Doll:  DET 1949-52, WAS 1953 & RAM 1954.  Doll helped the Lions win the 1952 NFL Championship, was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection, and is part of the Lions All-Time Team.

Pat Fischer:  STL 1961-67 & WAS 1968-77.  Fischer recorded 56 Interceptions (29 with St. Louis & 27 with Washington) and was twice named to the Pro Bowl.  Ranked #132 on notinhalloffame.com.

Goose Gonsoullin: DEN 1960-66 & SFO 1967.  Gonsoulin was Denver’s first great Safety, recording 43 of his 46 Interceptions for the Broncos.  He was a five-time AFL All-Star and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #230 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dave Grayson: DTX 1961-62, KAN 1963-84 & OAK 1965-70.  Grayson won two AFL Titles (one with Dallas and one with Oakland) and the DB was a three-time First Team All-Pro and six-time AFL All-Star.  He led the AFL in Interceptions in 1968 and had 48 in total.  Ranked #98 on notinhalloffame.com.

Cornell Green: DAL 1962-74.  Another career Dallas Cowboy, Green was twice named a First Team All-Pro and five Pro Bowls and helped them win their first Super Bowl.  He had 34 career Interceptions.  Ranked #184 on notinhalloffame.com.

Merton Hanks: SFO 1991-98 & SEA 1999.  Hanks was a 49er for all but his final season, and in San Francisco, the Free Safety was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  He also won a Super Bowl there and had 33 career Interceptions.

Lester Hayes: OAK 1977-81 & RAI 1982-86.  A two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders, Hayes was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year in 1980.  The Cornerback was a one-time First Team All-Pro, a five-time Pro Bowl Selection, and had 39 picks over his career.  Ranked #17 on notinhalloffame.com.

Warren Lahr:  CLE 1949-59.  Lahr had 44 Interceptions in a career spent entirely in Cleveland, where he won an AAFC Championship, an NFL Championship, and went to the Pro Bowl once.

Albert Lewis:  KAN 1983-93, RAI 1994 & OAK 1995-98.  Lewis went to four straight Pro Bowls (1987-90), was a two-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 42 Interceptions.  Ranked #104 on notinhalloffame.com.

Tim McDonald: STL-PHO 1987-92 & SFO 1993-99.  McDonald split his career nearly evenly with two teams as he had three Pro Bowls, Second Team All-Pros, and 20 TDs each with both the 49ers and Cardinals.  Ranked #188 on notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie Meador: RAM 1959-70.  Meador is one of the most prolific Defensive Backs in RMS history and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He amassed a franchise record of 46 Interceptions.  Ranked #68 on notinhalloffame.com.

Lemar Parrish: CIN 1970-77, WAS 1978-81 & BUF 1982.  Parrish went to eight Pro Bowls with a First Team All-Pro while recording 47 Interceptions.  Ranked #16 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Patton:  NYG 1955-66.  From 1958 to 1962, Patton went to the Pro Bowl and was a First Team All-Pro.  The long-time Safety had 51 Interceptions and was an NFL Champion in 1956.  Ranked #34 on notinhalloffame.com. 

Eugene Robinson:  SEA 1985-95, GNB 1996-97, ATL 1998-99 & CAR 2000.   Robinson went to three Pro Bowls and was a Super Bowl Champion with the Green Bay Packers.  He compiled 57 Interceptions and 1,413 Tackles over his career.  Ranked #231 on notinhalloffame.com.

George Saimes:  BUF 1963-68 & DEN 1970-72.  Saimes was selected to five straight AFL All-Stars (1964-68) and, over his career, earned three First Team All-Pro honors, two AFL Championships, and recorded 22 Interceptions.  Ranked #247 on notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Scott: MIA 1970-75 & WAS 1976-78.  Scott won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins, winning an MVP in one of them, and the Safety was also a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He had 47 career Interceptions.  Ranked #53 on notinhalloffame.com.

Dennis Smith:  DEN 1981-94.  Smith earned six Pro Bowls and had 15 Sacks, 30 Interceptions, and 1,158 Tackles in a career spent entirely in Denver.   Ranked #289 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jack Tatum: OAK 1971-79 & HOU 1980.  The feared Safety went to three straight Pro Bowls (1973-75), won a Super Bowl with Oakland, and had 37 Interceptions.

Everson Walls: DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93.  Walls had 57 Interceptions and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection with a Super Bowl ring with the Giants.  Ranked #87 on notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Waters: DAL 1970-78 & 1980-81.  Waters played in both of Dallas’ two Super Bowl Championships in the 1970s and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He had 41 Interceptions. 

Abe Woodson: SFO 1958-64 & STL 1965-66.  A multi-faceted performer, Woodson went to five straight Pro Bowls (1959-63) and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  Defensively, Woodson had 19 Interceptions, and he compiled over 6,500 Return Yards with seven Touchdowns.  Ranked #186 on notinhalloffame.com.

Louis Wright: DEN 1975-86.  Wright played all 12 of his NFL seasons with Denver, where he went to five Pro Bowls and earned two First Team All-Pros.  He had 26 career Interceptions.  Ranked #28 on notinhalloffame.com.

The Defensive Backs who did not return were Deron Cherry, Nolan Cromwell, Terry McDaniel, Roosevelt Taylor, Mike Wagner, Dave Whitsell, and Fred Williamson.  Added were Dave Brown, Goose Gonsoulin, Warren Lahr, Eugene Robinson, George Saimes, Charlie Waters, and Abe Woodson.

Punters/Kickers (3)

Jim Bakken: STL 1962-78.  Bakken was a four-time Pro Bowl Kicker and two-time First-Team All-Pro. He scored 1,380 career Points.

Jim Breech: CIN 1979-92.  Breech played fourteen seasons over his career and scored 1,246 Points.

Nick Lowery: NWE 1978, KAN 1980-93 & NYJ 1994-96.  Lowery went to four Pro Bowls and was a three-time Field Goal Percentage leader.  He had 1,711 over his career.

The only one who did not return from last year was Norm Johnson, with Jim Breech taking his spot.

Special Teams (2)

Mel Gray: NOR 1986-88, DET 1989-94, HOU 1995-96, TEN 1997, & PHI 1997.  Gray was an All-Decade Returner who was chosen for four Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pros.  He had 13,279 All-Purpose Yards.

Steve Tasker: HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97.  Tasker went to four Super Bowls with Buffalo and was a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #144 on notinhalloffame.com.

These were the same two Special Teams players from last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the eighth ten of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 71 to 80:

71. Leslie O’Neal
72. Pat Swilling
73. Jay Hilgenberg
74. Alan Ameche
75. Jeff Saturday
76. Karl Mecklenburg
77. Chuck Foreman
78. Logan Mankins
79. Keith Jackson
80. Eddie Meador

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

Thomas Hall of Mile Hile Huddle discusses Denver Broncos who should be in the Hall of Fame and Football Analytics.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Denver Broncos. 

The Nets were formed in 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League.  While the fanbase proved to be strong, the play on the field was not, and they had little to no success in the 1960s.  The first few seasons when they migrated to the NFL saw the same result, but a developing “Orange Crush” Defense, took them to Super Bowl XII.  They came up short, but it was a start.

The Broncos would trade for the number one pick in 1983, John Elway, and it would usher in a wave of success in Mile High.  Elway took the Broncos to three AFC Championships in the 1980s, but they were unable to convert that success into a Super Bowl ring.  This changed in the 90s, when Elway gained a prime offensive weapon in Terrell Davis, and the two would win Super Bowl back-to-back in the 1997 and 1998 season, ending the anxiety of Broncos fans.

Denver would again sign a Hall of Fame Quarterback, though in Peyton Manning, it was at the end of his career.  The Broncos went to Super Bowl XLVIII, but were thrashed by the Seattle Seahawks. In Manning’s last year, he did enough for them to win Super Bowl 50, though that was more on the strength of their defense.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018 Season.

The complete list can be found here,but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. John Elway

2. Randy Gradishar

3. ShannonSharpe

4. RodSmith

5. ChampBailey

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for or All-Time Top 50 Carolina Panthers coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.

Known as the "Albino Rhino," Karl Mecklenburg was a late round (12^th) pick from the University of Minnesota was the master of versatility for the Denver Broncos.  Mecklenburg played seven different defensive positions for Denver and was described as a "Defensive Swiss-Army Knife."  Usually, he lined up at Inside Linebacker, and the was a First Team All-Pro in both 1985 and 1986 as well as 1989, which was the season that he led the NFL in Approximate Value.  Mecklenburg played his entire career with the Denver Broncos which saw him go to six Pro Bowls over 12 seasons, three of which he was a crucial part of the team's success in reaching the Super Bowl.  He would also accumulate 79.0 Quarterback Sacks.

The Broncos selected Mecklenburg for the Ring of Fame in 2001.

Can we say again how much we love “Hall of Fame Season”?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their Semi-Finalists are out and it brings out many familiar faces.

Let’s get right to the 27 Semi-Finalists:

Steve Atwater: Safety, DEN 1989-98 & NYJ 1999. Atwater is a Semi-Finalist for the seventh year in a row and he was a two time All-Pro Selection. Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber: Cornerback/Safety, TB 1997-2012. Barber is entering his first year of eligibility and is a three time First Team All-Pro Selection. Barber helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl XXXVII. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli: Offensive Tackle, JAX 1995-01 & HOU 2002. Boselli is a Semi-Finalist for the third time and was a five time Pro Bowl Selection. He was also a three time First Team All Pro. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Bruce: Wide Receiver, LAR/STL 1994-07 & SF 2008-09. Bruce is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight time and is a four time Pro Bowler. Bruce had 15,208 Receiving Yards over his career, which is fourth all-time overall. Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler. Safety, GB 1990-01. While Butler has been Hall of Fame eligible since 2007, this is his first appearance as a Semi-Finalist. Butler was both a four time First Team All Pro and Pro Bowl Selection and he is also a Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Don Coryell: Coach, STL 1973-77 & SD 1978-86. Don “Air” Coryell is a Semi-Finalist for the tenth time and for the ninth year in a row.

Roger Craig: Running Back, SF 1983-90, LAR 1991 & MIN 1992-93. Craig returns as a Semi-Finalist for the tenth time in a row. He is a former NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1988) and a three time Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Dawkins: Safety, PHI 1996-08. Dawkins is a Semi-Finalist for the second year in a row and was a Finalist last year, which was his first year of eligibility. He went to nine Pro Bowls and was chosen for four First Team All Pros. Ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca: Offensive Guard, PIT 1998-07, NYJ 2008-09 & ARI 2010. Faneca is a Semi-Finalist for the third time and was also a Finalist the last two years. Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls, was a six time First Team All Pro Selection and is a former Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt: Wide Receiver, STL1999-08 & JAX 2009. Holt is a six time Pro Bowler who twice led the NFL in Receiving Yards. This is his fourth time as a Semi-Finalist. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Hutchinson: Offensive Guard, SEA 2001-05, MIN 2006-11 & TEN 2012. Hutchinson is in his first year of eligibility and is a five time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.



Joe Jacoby: Offensive Tackle, WAS 1981-93. Jacoby is a Semi-Finalist for the eighth time and was a Finalist last year. The two time Pro Bowler was also a three time Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #52 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Edgerrin James: Running Back, IND 1999-05, ARI 2006-08 & SEA 2009. James is a four time Pro Bowl Selection and a two time Rushing Champion. This is his fourth time in a row as a Semi-Finalist. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Johnson: Coach, DAL 1989-93 & MIA 1996-99. Johnson is a two time Super Bowl winner and a five time Semi-Finalist.

Ty Law: Cornerback, NE 1995-04, NYJ 2005 & 08, KC 2006-07 & DEN 2009. Law is a five time Pro Bowler and three time Super Bowl Champion. He is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth time and was a Finalist last year. Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ray Lewis. Linebacker, BAL 1996-12. This is the first year of Ray Lewis’ Hall of Fame eligibility and likely his last as he should get in immediately. He is a two time Super Bowl Champion and also a two time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.   Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch. Safety, TB 1993-03 & DEN 2003-07. Lynch is a Semi-Finalist for the sixth time in a row and has also been a past Finalist. Lunch went to nine Pro Bowls and was a Super Bowl Champion with Tampa Bay. Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Mawae. Center/Offensive Guard, SEA 1994-97, NYJ 1998-05 & TEN 2006-09. Mawae is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth year in a row and is also a past Finalist. He is also an eight time Pro Bowl and three time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Karl Mecklenburg. Linebacker, DEN 1983-84. Mecklenburg is now a Semi-Finalist for the seventh straight time and he is a six time Pro Bowler. Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Moss. Wide Receiver, MIN 1998-04, OAK 2005-06, NE 2007-10, TEN 2010 & SF 2012. This the first year of eligibility for Moss who was one of the most dynamic players ever. Moss was a four time First Team All Pro Selection who is third all time in Receiving Yards. Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Leslie O’Neal. Defensive End, SD 1986 & 1988-95, STL 1996-97 & KC 1998-99. Despite being eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2005, this is the first time that O’Neal has become a Semi-Finalist. He is a six time Pro Bowler. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Terrell Owens. Wide Receiver, SF 1996-03, PHI 2004-05, DAL 2006-08, BUF 2009 & CIN 2010. Owens returns for the third time in the Semi-Finals and he was a Finalist the previous two years. T.O. is second overall in Receiving Yards and is a five time First Team All Pro Selection. Of course, he already has a Hall of Fame jacket, whether he gets in or not! Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice. Defensive End, AZ 1996-00, TB 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007. Rice is on his first year of eligibility and is a former three time Pro Bowl Selection and Super Bowl Champion with Tampa Bay. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour. Defensive End/Defensive Tackle, NE 2001-08 & OAK 2009-12. This is the first year of eligibility for Seymour who was a three time Super Bowl Champion and seven time Pro Bowl Selection. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Urlacher. Linebacker, CHI 2000-12. Urlacher is Hall of Fame eligible for the first time in his career and he was an eight time Pro Bowl and four time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls. Cornerback, DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93. Despite being eligible for the Pro Football for nearly twenty years, this is the first time that Walls made it to the Semi-Finals. Walls was a four time Pro Bowl Selection and he led the NFL in Interceptions three times. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward. Wide Receiver, PIT 1998-11. Ward is a Semi-Finalist for the second time in a row and he is a four time Pro Bowl Selection and a Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

This group of Semi-Finalists will be trimmed down to fifteen in January. They will automatically be joined by Contributor Finalist, Bobby Beathard and two Senior Finalists; Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile.

As you can imagine, we will be paying close attention to that announcement!

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have always been fond of the fact that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has preliminary nominees; so much so that we incorporated that in both our Fictitious Athlete and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As such, we are pleased to bring to you the preliminary nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

All of the first year candidates will be underlined, and the returning Finalists will have an asterisk.

Let’s take a look shall we?

Quarterbacks:

Randall Cunningham: PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001. Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon: MIN 1987-92, WAS 1993, KC 1995-98 & OAK 1993-04.

Donovan McNabb: PHI 1999-09, WAS 2010 & MIN 2011. Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair: HOU/TEN 1995-05 & BAL 2006-07. Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Phil Simms: NYG 1979-93. Ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs:

Tiki Barber: NYG (1997-06). Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner: CLE 1984-88, WAS 1989-93 & CLE/BAL 1996-97.

Roger Craig: SF 1983-90, LAR 1991 & MIN 1992-93. Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Corey Dillon: CIN 1997-03 & NE 2004-08.

Eddie George: HOU/TEN 1996-03 & DAL 2004.

Edgerrin James: IND 1999-05, AZ 2006-08 & SEA 2009. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lorenzo Neal: NO 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TB 1998, TEN 1999-00, CIN 2001-02, SD 2003-07 & BAL 2008.

Fred Taylor: JAX 1998-08 & NE 2009-10.

Herschel Walker: DAL 1986-89, MIN 1989-91, PHI 1992-94, NYG 1995 & DAL 1996-97. Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SF 1991-94, PHI 1995-97 & SEA 1998-01. Ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers:

*Isaac Bruce: LAR/STL 1994-07 & SF 2008-09. Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Donald Driver: GB 1999-12.

Henry Ellard: LAR 1983-93, WAS 1994-97, NE 1998 & WAS 1998. Ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt: STL 1998-08, JAX 2009. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Johnson: CIN 2001-10, NE 2011. Ranked #44 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Moss: MIN 1998-04, OAK 2005-06, NE 2007-10, TEN 2010 & SF 2012. Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Owens: SF 1996-03, PHI 2004-05, DAL 2006-08, BUF 2009 & CIN 2010. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sterling Sharpe: GB 1988-94. Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith: DAL 1992-93 & JAX 1995-05. Ranked #96 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith: DEN 1995-07. Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith: NYG 2007-10, PHI 2011 & STL 2012.

John Taylor: SF 1987-95.

Hines Ward: PIT 1998-11. Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends:

Mark Bavaro: NYG 1985-90, CLE 1992 & PHI 1993-94.

Ben Coates: NE 1994-99 & BAL 2000. Ranked #79 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ferrell Edmunds: MIA 1988-92 & SEA 1993-94.

Jay Novacek: STL/PHX 1985-89 & DAL 1990-96. Ranked #89 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Linemen:

Willie Anderson (T): CIN 1996-07 & BAL 2008.

Matt Birk (C): MIN 1998-08 & BAL 2009-12. Ranked #67 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli (T): JAX 1995-01 & HOU 2002. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95, AZ 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TB 2002.

Ruben Brown (G): BUF 1995-03 & CHI 2004-07.

Ray Donaldson (C): BAL/IND 1980-92, SEA 1993-94 & DAL 1995-96.

Alan Faneca (G): PIT 1998-07, NYJ 2008-09 & AZ 2010. Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Fralic (G/T): ATL 1985-92.

Jay Hilgenberg (C): CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NO 1993. Ranked #71 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton (G/T): BAL/IND 1983-93, ATL 1990-92 & MIN 1994-95. Ranked #104 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kent Hull (C): BUF 1986-96.

Steve Hutchinson (G): SEA 2001-05, MIN 2006-11 & TEN 2012. Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe Jacoby (T): WAS 1981-93. Ranked #52 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn (T): ATL 1978-94. Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Kevin Mawae (C/G): SEA 1994-97, NYJ 1998-05 & TEN 2006-09. Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-08.

Nate Newton (G): DAL 1986-98 & CAR 1999.

Bart Oates (C): NYG 1985-93 & SF 1994-95.

Jeff Saturday (C): IND 1999-11 & GB 2012. Ranked #76 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T): MIA 1999-00 & CIN 2001-02.

Steve Wisniewski (G): LAR/OAK 1989-01. Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT): NO 1997-01, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.

Leonard Marshall (DE/DT): NYG 1983-92, NYJ 1993 & WAS 1994.

Keith Millard (DT/NT/DE): MIN 1985-91, SEA 1992, GB 1992 & PHI 1993.

Leslie O’Neal (DE): SD 1986-95, STL 1996-97 & KC 1998-99.

Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE): CLE 1989-94, DEN 1995-97 & KC 1997.

Simeon Rice (DE): AZ 1996-00, TB 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.

Richard Seymour (DT): NE 2001-08 & OAK 2009-12. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE): KC 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SD 2000.

Greg Townsend (DE/NT/LB): LAR 1983-93, PHI 1994 & OAK 1997.

Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE): AZ 2001-04, TEN 2005-09 & DET 2010-12.

Bryant Young (DT): SF 1994-07

Linebackers:

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.

Cornelius Bennett: BUF 1987-95, ATL 1996-98 & IND 1999-00.

Tedy Bruschi: NE 1996-08.

Seth Joyner: PHI 1986-93, AZ 1994-96, GB 1997 & DEN 1998.

Ray Lewis: BAL 1996-12. Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Lloyd: PIT 1988-97 & CAR 1998. Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wilber Marshall: CHI 1984-87, WAS 1988-92, HOU 1993, AZ 1994 & NYJ 1995.

Clay Matthews: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.

Willie McGinest: NE 1994-05 & CLE 2006-08.

Karl Mecklenburg: DEN 1983-94. Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills: NO 1986-94 & CAR 1995-97. Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joey Porter: PIT 199-06, MIA 2007-09 & AZ 2010-11. Ranked #98 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley: BUF 1983-94, ATL 1995 & MIN 1996.

Zach Thomas: MIA 1996-2007 & DAL 2008.

Brian Urlacher: CHI 2000-12. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs:

Eric Allen (CB): PHI 1988-94, NO 1995-97 & OAK 1998-01. Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Atwater (S): DEN 1989-98 & NYJ 1999. Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber (CB/S): TB 1997-12. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler (S): GB 1990-01. Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brian Dawkins (SS): PHI 1996-08 & DEN 2009-11. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison (S): SD 1994-02 & NE 2003-08.

*Ty Law (CB): NE 1995-04, NYJ 2005, KC 2006-07, NYJ 2008 & DEN 2009. Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis (CB): KC 1983-93 & LAR/OAK 1994-98.

*John Lynch (S): TB 1993-03 & DEN 2004-07. Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dennis Smith (S): DEN 1981-94.

Everson Walls (CB): DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93

Darren Woodson (S): DAL 1992-03..

Place Kickers/Punters:

Gary Anderson (K): PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-96, SF 1997, MIN 1998-02 & TEN 2003-04

Sean Landeta (P): NYG 1985-93, LAR/STL 1993-96, TB 1997, GB 1998, PHI 1999-02, STL 2003-04, PHI 2005 & NYG 2006.

Nick Lowery (K): NE 1978, KC 1980-93 & NYJ 1994-96.

Special Teams:

Brian Mitchell (KR/PR): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02 & NYG 2003.

Steve Tasker (ST): HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97. Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Coaches:

*Don Coryell: STL 1973-77 & SD 1978-86.

Bill Cowher: PIT 1992-06.

Tom Flores: OAK/LAR 1979-87 & SEA 1992-94.

Mike Holmgren: GB 1992-98 & SEA 1999-08.

Jimmy Johnson: DAL 1989-93 & MIA 1996-99.

Chuck Knox: LAR 1973-77, BUF 1978-82, SEA 1983-91 & LAR 1992-94.

Buddy Parker: DET 1951-56 & PIT 1957-64.

Richie Petitbon: WAS 1981-93.

Dan Reeves: DEN 1981-92, NYG 1993-96 & ATL 1997-03

Marty Schottenheimer: CLE 1984-89, KC 1989-98 & WAS 2001.

Clark Shaugnessy: LAR 1978-49 & CHI 1951--62

Dick Vermeil: PHI 1976-82, STL 1997-99 & KC 2001-05.

Please note that we don not rank coaches.

Mild surprise omissions at this stage include Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Running Back, Shaun Alexander.

Perhaps the biggest head scratcher is that Steve Smith was chosen. We have to wonder if they thought they were voting for the recently retired Steve Smith Sr., who is eligible for Canton in 2022 and has over 14,000 Receiving Yards. This Steve Smith played five years and has 2,641 Receiving Yards.

We are guessing that Smith won’t make the next round.

Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile have already advanced as Senior Finalists. Bobby Beathard has been announced as the Contributor Finalist

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate those who made it this far and we will be eagerly anticipating those who will advance to the Semi-Finals.

We would love to make a case for Karl Mecklenburg just for his nickname of the “Albino Rhino” but we have always been a sucker for colorful (or in this case not so colorful) nicknames.